Tongs



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. P. T. BERG..

(No Model.)

TONGS.

Patented June 20, 1893.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-v Sheet 2.

P. T. BERG. TONGS.

No. 499,702. Patented June 20, 1893.

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UNHTED STATES PER TORSTEN BERG, on MUNHALL, PENNSYLVANIA.

TONGS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 499,702, dated June 20,1893.

Application filed January 23, 1893. Serial No. 459,1L15. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it mayconcern:

Be it known that I, PER TORSTEN BERG, of Munhall, in the county ofAllegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and usefulImprovement in Tongs, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings, formingpart of this specification, in which Figure 1 shows in side elevation acrane provided with my improved tongs in the act of gripping an ingot ina heating-furnace pit. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the tongs inthe act of releasing an ingot which has been deposited upon a car. Fig.3 is an elevation of the tongs. Fig. 4 is a plan view; and Fig. 5 an endelevation thereof.

Like symbols of reference indicate like parts in each.

The object of my invention is to provide means by which powerfullyacting tongs can be so constructed as to be adapted to enterconveniently an upright heating-furnace, without occupying much room inso doing, and to lower the tongs into the pit or furnace a much longerdistance than ordinarily.

Tongs heretofore used for handling ingots in such furnaces occupy aninconvenient amount of space and this fact has seriously impaired theirusefulness as ingot-handling appliances. My improved tongs are soconstructed that the tongs when open take up but little room and havelongitudinally extending jaws adapted to enter the heatingchamber tograsp the ingot, and having toggle levers at their upper ends whichafford means for closing the jaws, and which by reason of their locationneed not enter the furnace, and therefore need not cause the tongs totake up an inconvenient amount of space.

In the drawings, 2, 3, represent the tongjaws consisting of bars ofmetal whose general direction is parallel to each other, and which arepivoted at points4 to cross-bars or rigid frame 5.

6, 7, are toggle-levers, preferably of L-form, which are connectedpivotally together at 8, and are separately pivoted at points 9, 10, tothe ends of the jaws 2, 3.

11, 11, are the usual bits fixed to the jaws 2, 3, for the purpose ofbiting upon an interposed metal piece. The ends of the levers 6,

7, and their intermediate connecting pivot are provided with independentactuating devices or supports, consisting preferably of chains 13connected to the ends of the levers 6,7, and suspended from thejib 14 ofa crane and a chain 15 extending from the middle pivot 8 to the ram orpiston 16 of a liftingcylinder, also preferably arranged on the jib ofthe crane. By referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be apparent that ifthe chain 15 is slackened by projecting the ram 16, it will cause theweight of the tongs to be supported by the chains 13, which acting onthe levers 6, 7, will cause divergence of the pivotal points 9, 10, anda consequent approach of the projections 11, causing them to bite uponan interposed ingot 17, as shown in Fig. 1. In actin g in this mannerthe toggle-levers are prevented from being moved by accident, so far asto bring the central pivot 8 below the line connecting the pivotalpoints 9, 10, by means of safety stops 18, formed on the ends of thelovers 6, 7. By reason of the substantial parallelism of the jaws 2, 3,and the location of the toggles at their upper ends, the tongs willenter the furnace 19 easily and without taking up so much room as tooblige the ingots to be separated unduly from each other in theirposition on the furnace-hearth, for the toggle-levers 6, 7, whichdiverge so as to give the tongs great power in acting upon the ingot,need not enter the furnace at least more than to a slight extent. Whenthe ingot has been grasped as above described, it can be lifted from thefurnace by raising the jib of the crane, andby swinging the jiblaterally in the usual manner can be deposited upon a car 20 or otherplace to which it is desired to carry it. When it is desired to releasethe ingot and to leave it upon such car, the crane jib may be loweredand the ram 16 lifted, thus transferring the Weight of the tongs fromthe chains 13 to the central chain 15 and sufiering the levers 6, 7, tomove by gravity into the position shown in Fig. 2, thereby opening thejaws, releasing the ingot, and permitting the tongs to be moved awaytherefrom in the operation of the crane.

The advantages of my invention will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art. The

tongs are simple and very effective in their action, and by reason oftheir construction they permit a large number of ingots to be groupedtogether in a heating furnace without leaving much intermediate spacefor the entrance and operation of the tongs, while, on account of theirdeep lowering capacity, they can manipulate much shorter ingots than washeretofore possible.

WVithout limiting myself with strictness to the described constructionof the parts, which, within the scope of the claims may be varied by theskilled mechanic, I claim- 1. Tongs having gripping jaws, toggle-leverspivoted to the upper ends of the jaws, and projecting outwardly, meansfor suspending said levers at their outer ends, and independent meansfor suspending the tongs at the connection of the toggle-levers;substantially as described.

2. Tongs having substantially parallel gripping jaws, a rigid frame towhich they are pivoted at their middle points on separate pivots and onwhich they are movable radially, to gle-levers pivoted to the upper endsof the jaws, and means for suspending the tongs from said levers;substantially as described.

3. Tongs having substantially parallel gripping jaws, pivoted onseparate pivots at their middle points and movable radially on saidpivots, toggle-levers pivoted to the upper ends of the jaws, means forsuspending the tongs from said levers, and independent means forsuspending the tongs at the place of connection of the toggle-levers;substantially as described.

4. Tongs having substantially parallel gripping jaws, a rigid frame towhich they are pivoted at middle points on separate pivots and on whichthey are movable radially, togglelevers pivoted to the upper ends of thejaws, means for suspending the tongs from said levers, and independentmeans for suspending the tongs at the place of connection of thetoggle-levers; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

PER TORSTEN BERG.

